Swires Maintain Craven Dairy Auction Championship Stronghold

Swires Maintain Craven Dairy Auction Championship Stronghold
2009-12-16

North Yorkshire father-and-son dairy farmers Malcolm and Robert Swires bagged yet another championship coup at the December Craven Dairy Auction at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, Dec 14)

Flanking the Craven Dairy Auction December champion are exhibitor Robert Swires and his sister Libby Simpson.

The Swires, of Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw, victors at the Christmas show last month, landed back-to-back victories to add to many previous titles, which has seen the dynamic dairy duo become the most prolific Craven Dairy Auction championship winners in recent history.

Their latest success was achieved with a h

ome-bred newly calven Holstein Friesian by the Scottish-bred Firth Outside, the Swires’ former stock bull, used jointly and successfully with family members Thomas and Libby Simpson, of Red House Farm, Ripon – Libby is Robert Swires’ sister.

Giving 30 litres, the December champion sold for £2,060 to Wick Williams, of Nantwich, one of a ‘bagful’ of acquisitions made on the day by the Cheshire dairyman, who is a familiar face at the Skipton ringside.

Among his other purchases were the second and third prize newly calven heifers – both also from the Swires, making it a clean sweep of class prizes – at £2,040 and £1,970, along with the second and third prize newly calven cows, the former at £1,920 and yet again from the Swires, the latter at £2,030 from Keith Downs, of Milner Field, Bingley.

In addition, Mr Williams bought two further Keith Downs newly calven cows at £2,040 and £2,010, taking his tally to five successful £2K-plus bids.

One that eluded him was the first prize newly calven cow, reserve show champion and top price dairy animal at £2,200 from Wharfedale dairy farmer David Lawson, of Arthington, Otley. This was knocked to Calderdale buyer Ian Dodson, of Soyland, Sowerby Bridge.

Newly calven heifers averaged £1,781 and newly calven cows £1,646. Judge was Aubrey Greenhalgh, Preston, and main show sponsor Townson Bros Fuels, Clitheroe, supported by regular monthly sponsors BOCM Pauls and Farmers & Mercantile.

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